Dynasty Injury Report: Week 11
My name is Jeff Mueller, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Injury Analyst for DLF, and I am here to help guide you through these weekly injuries and provide helpful insight into how bad the injury is and what the expected timeline for recovery is for your key player. It is important to remember that my analysis is based on limited information provided by teams, beat reporters, and limited video analysis of the injury itself – I am simply here to give you the best estimate possible for how to move forward and plan around player injury.
To help keep track of bye weeks, here is the list:
- Week 6: Atlanta, New Orleans, NY Jets, SF 49ers
- Week 7: Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, Minnesota, LA Chargers, Pittsburgh
- Week 8: Baltimore, Las Vegas
- Week 9: Detroit, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Washington
- Week 10: Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, NY Giants
- Week 11: Denver, LA Rams
- Week 12: Arizona, Kansas City
- Week 13: Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, Tennessee
- Week 14: Indianapolis, Miami, New England, Philadelphia
The first few injuries listed are key to know for Thursday Night Football.
Remember, there are three games on Thursday so do not forget to set those lineups. I wish you all best of luck as we near fantasy playoffs, and a Happy Thanksgiving!
Allen Robinson, WR CHI
Injury: Hamstring
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Hamstring strains are typically a one-three week return for low grade. Robinson missed last week, so his ability to practice this week will be key. Monitor the injury reports, but given it is a short week, Robinson likely misses another week. Continued bump to Darnell Mooney.
Justin Fields, QB CHI
Injury: Ribs
Return to Play: Week 13-15
Fantasy Impact: Fields suffered a rib injury in week 11, quite possibly fractured ribs that would require two-three weeks to recover. Andy Dalton very well could be the guy for the next few weeks.
Amari Cooper, WR DAL
Injury: COVID
Return to Play: Week 13
Fantasy Impact: Cooper will miss week 12 due to being unvaccinated and testing positive for COVID. He will likely return for week 13.
CeeDee Lamb, WR DAL
Injury: Concussion
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Despite the short week, there is a slim chance that Lamb will be able to return for week 12. The concussion protocol is five steps, however that does not mean it takes five days to clear protocol. If Lamb can practice in full tomorrow without showing symptoms Wednesday or Thursday morning, he can be cleared to play. Would remain a re-injury risk, but play if active.
Alvin Kamara, RB NO
Injury: Left Knee Sprain, Likely MCL
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Kamara was unable to play in week 10 or 11 due to a presumed MCL sprain. He started the week off with a DNP, but still has a shot at playing on the short week Thanksgiving night. At this stage, I think it is more likely that we see Kamara return in week 13. If inactive, another bump to Mark Ingram.
AJ Brown, WR TEN
Injury: Chest Injury
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Brown reportedly does not have fractured ribs, but was slated to undergo further tests to determine any cartilage damage. There has been no word yet, but for now assume a rib sprain. He may be able to play this week, but monitor practice status. He has been struggling with defenses focusing solely on him, so unfortunately he is a sit for now.
Marquise Brown, WR BAL
Injury: Thigh Strain
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Soft tissue injuries such as hamstring or quadriceps strains typically take one to three weeks for return. Brown was unable to practice last week, so keep an eye on his practice status. Decent chance he misses another week. Start if active, despite the risk.
Jarvis Landry, WR CLE
Injury: Knee Sprain, MCL
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Landry likely re-aggravated his prior MCL sprain. If this is the case, he most likely will miss two to three games. Monitor his practice status. Bump to Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Cordarelle Patterson, RB ATL
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: 1-3 Weeks
Fantasy Impact: Patterson suffered a presumed high ankle sprain in week ten, leaving the game early and not returning. He was listed as a game-time decision but ultimately ruled out. He will have had ten more days to recover and was already participating in individual drills. There is a good chance he is able to play in week 12. Start if active.
Aaron Jones, RB GB
Injury: Right MCL
Return to Play: Week 14-15
Fantasy Impact: Initial reporting has Jones suffering a “mild” MCL sprain that may only cost him one-two weeks. Given his response (tears, crying, painful walking, had to be helped off of the field), I do not believe it truly was a mild sprain. I would plan on him being out until at least after the Packers’ bye week with a week 14 or 15 return. AJ Dillon should be considered a must-start for the time being.
Elijah Mitchell, RB SF
Injury: Finger Fracture, Surgery
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Mitchell reportedly got surgery to pin a fractured finger (unsure which finger is involved or which hand). What I said last week: “While Kyle Shanahan stated that the intent is for Mitchell to practice Wednesday, I am skeptical that he will be able to play five days after surgery. Recent examples include Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, and Tua Tagovailoa, all requiring at least one game missed after a simple repair. Monitor practice reports, but could be a boost to Jeff Wilson Jr.”
There is a good chance he is able to return in week 12. Start if active.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR ARI
Injury: Hamstring
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: Hopkins has now been out three weeks with a hamstring strain that he was initially attempting to play through. With their bye week coming up, good chance he is able to return for week 13. Monitor practice reports leading up to next week.
Kyler Murray, QB ARI
Injury: Left High Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 13
Fantasy Impact: Murray was reportedly close to playing in week 11, however was eventually ruled out. Murray likely returns week 13 after their bye week.
Michael Carter, RB NYJ
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 12-14
Fantasy Impact: Carter suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain, meaning his return to play could range from one game missed to three or four games missed. He was limping a decent amount on his way off the field, so I would assume multiple games missed. Bump to Ty Johnson.
Jordan Howard, RB PHI
Injury: Knee Sprain
Return to Play: Week 13-14
Fantasy Impact: Howard likely suffered an MCL sprain, unable to return to week 11. Typically these knee sprains take at least two-three weeks for return. Bump to Boston Scott (in Howard’s role behind Miles Sanders).
DeeJay Dallas, RB SEA
Injury: Left Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Dallas looked to have suffered a mild left ankle sprain on the very last play of the game. It has not been reported yet, but monitor his practice status. With Rashaad Penny dealing with a new hamstring strain and Alex Collins being incredibly inefficient, the Seahawks may elect to see what they have in their young running back.
Jamal Agnew, WR JAC
Injury: Hip, Season-Ending IR
Return to Play: 2022
Fantasy Impact: Agnew suffered a season-ending hip injury in week 11. This should be a bump to LaViska Shenault, but… time will tell.
Zach Wilson, QB NYJ
Injury: Right PCL Sprain
Return to Play: Week 12
Fantasy Impact: Wilson has been named the week 12 starter for the Jets with Joe Flacco and Mike White on the COVID list. Time to see what the rookie can do, but it might be a temporary downgrade to Elijah Moore.
Aaron Rodgers, QB GB
Injury: Toe Injury
Return to Play: Week 12
Fantasy Impact: Rodgers revealed on the Pat McAfee show that his injury is to his pinky (fifth) toe. This is possibly a fracture of the distal portion of his toe. He has still been able to run, scramble and pass, so I do not think this will limit him much moving forward but monitor his status closely.
Players on IR
Chris Carson, RB SEA
Injury: Neck, Season-Ending Surgery
Return to Play: 2022
Fantasy Impact: Carson is likely having surgery on a disc herniation, either a microdiscectomy where they essentially trim the torn piece of disc away or a fusion. There is actually a decent chance he is able to return in 2022 without symptoms, in which case Pete Carroll likely allows him to lead the backfield again. It could be worth sending a very late pick if the current manager is done with Carson.
Kareem Hunt, RB CLE
Injury: Calf Strain
Return to Play: Eligible to return off IR; Week 12 or Week 14
Fantasy Impact: Hunt is set to practice this week, however the Browns have a week 13 bye. There is a chance the Browns elect to hold Hunt out for another week, but monitor practice status.
Chase Edmonds, RB ARI
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Return to Play: Week 13-15
Fantasy Impact: Edmonds suffered a high ankle sprain that knocked him out of week nine early. I expect this to be a four-six week timeline as it sounds to be a higher grade sprain. Decent chance he is able to return after the Cardinals’ bye week. Uptick to James Conner (and consider adding Eno Benjamin if he is out there).
Logan Thomas, TE WAS
Injury: Hamstring
Return to Play: Week 12-13
Fantasy Impact: Thomas has now missed six games due to a hamstring strain. He had returned to practice, though mostly going through individual drills. Monitor practice status.
If you have any questions on these players or any other players who I did not discuss, please ask in the comments. Good luck this week!
- Dynasty Injury Forecast: Week Ten - November 9, 2024
- Dynasty Injury Forecast: Week Seven - October 19, 2024
- Dynasty Injury Forecast: Week Three - September 21, 2024
